Snow flower and the secret fan

 

This is a story of 2 sisters bound by a cultural practice of Laotong (old sames). They are bound to share things they go through after marriage.

The life story of the two sisters, their life and decision not in their control in a patriarchal society. One is married to a rich person the other to poor, though both unhappy in their own ways. The ancient rural china with its fields and visualizations was really good. 

The concept of binding 2 women as kindred sisters throughout life is something which is needed in the modern world so that it makes you feel that there's a companion other than your husband to share your thoughts with.

If you have loved reading Memoirs of Geisha you will surely like this book.

Gone with the wind

 This is an all time Classic which brings back the American Civil war.

I absolutely loved reading it (though I did not watch the movie). It was a long read, you do not feel like putting it down. The title does it so much justice, everything is really gone with the wind once you finish the book.

Scarlet O'Hara. Quite an inspirational character, though she has made many mistakes in her life. 

The angst, the biases(gender and racial), its a full pack of all kinds of emotions. You might feel Scarlet is a gold digger but the situations through which she had to go weren't easy. The pre war , war and post war is portrayed from a loosing opponent's view(The Southerners) Their glorious past and post war sufferings makes your heart cringe.  The cotton planation Tara and its description will make you go back in time, to enjoy the beautiful sunsets in this plantation.

Few things will irritate you, and that is Scarlets infatuation or love or whatever she things it is towards Ashley. The book is written in such a way that it makes you hate Scarlet for the blunders she commits.

Rhet Butler, The speculation as to what's between Rhet and Scarlet keeps you pinned . Both the characters Scarlet and Rhet are not entirely good people nor completely bad. The decisions they take, the effect those decisions have on their life is worth reading.

I need to mention two other character which I liked in this book Scarlets parents. Her mom Ellen  and her dad Mr. O'Hara. Both are on the other end of  the extremes but you will end up liking both these extremes at the end. 

I did not like Ashley or Melanie or any of the Atlanta characters much, as they make you feel their presence not likable in the book probably meant not to be liked.

I cannot end the review without mentioning one character that is Prissy. These are iconic characters, the way prissy makes you laugh given the war situation in the background is ironic to read. But she does make you laugh with her clumsiness.

A must read book in a life time, gives you a different perspective to life after reading it.